Choices……

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.  What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”  – Jane Goodall

Since we decided to make this trip, there has been some guilt over the carbon footprint of the air travel involved.  A recent editorial argued that the travel industry – especially in areas on the edge of poverty – injects not only needed cash, but also a sense of stewardship for the resources that are worth traveling to see.  Case in point – Africa.

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If travelers did not go there to view incredible wildlife and awe-inspiring landscapes…. what would happen? More than likely – endangered animal populations would be allowed to vanish, and their habitats would be converted to cattle farms and/or sold to indifferent foreign powers, exacerbating the very conditions that have contributed to the climate crisis and socio-economic imbalances.  And too many people would still live and die in conditions of starvation and disease,  in ignorance and hopelessness.

So what kind of difference do we want to make?  

What is accomplished by staying at home?  Realistically…. not much.  

Or we can go – invest our assets in organizations and for adventures that provide employment for proud citizens who are passionate about the history, flora and fauna of their environment, resources to help them nurture these things, and education for those who wish to make a difference……. and then try in our own way to show our care for these places and societies through the stories we tell.  

(Okay – and it’s a lot more fun than staying at home…..)

Hats off to Greta Thunberg – her position is admirable and she displays astonishing courage in relentlessly getting her message out.  Agreed, too, that mankind needs to seek out ways to make travel more sustainable… but the answer is not necessarily to just stay put.  

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

We will continue to visit places near and far, by land, sea and air, promoting those who make change for the better in their regions, and spreading our appreciation and understanding of the connectedness we have with other countries and other peoples – all a part of this precious planet we share.

Lecture over… convincing no one perhaps of anything, but finding some satisfaction in putting down a few thoughts.

So – there was a gap between 2019’s road trip to the West, Canada and Alaska….. and the planned trip in 2020 down under – to Australia and New Zealand.  We decided to try the “National-Geographic-Does-All” trip around the globe in 23 days, touching down in intriguing places that we would be unlikely to ever visit on our own.

The journey starts in Washington, DC, on 9 January.  Assuming WiFi connectivity at every location, we hope to post a short blog entry for each stop (there are 12).  Our return to DC is scheduled for 31 January…..  so don’t blink, folks, or you’ll miss it!

Our preparations are relatively easy – basically making sure we have the clothes needed for each of the environments we will visit….. without overdoing.  Also, I went a little crazy making potholders, gifts for the kindnesses I know we will receive from so many along the way…..

Please stay tuned.  And happy new year!